George M. Willing facts for kids

George Maurice "Doc" Willing, Jr. (born around 1829, died in 1874) was an American doctor, prospector, and political helper. He is known for representing Jefferson Territory in the United States Congress, even though he wasn't officially elected. He is also known for introducing James Reavis to a fake Peralta land grant.

Early Life and Moving West

George Willing was born into a wealthy family in Philadelphia. He studied to become a doctor. He married Mary Ann, whose father was a successful merchant. Later, Willing moved to California in the early 1850s for a fresh start.

By the late 1850s, Willing had moved to St. Louis, Missouri. In April 1859, he joined the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. This was a time when many people rushed to Colorado to find gold. He worked in the "Goose Pasture Diggings" for several months.

Working for Jefferson Territory

The Rocky Mountain News newspaper described Willing as a "good geologist and a most polished gentleman." In October 1859, he ran to be a delegate for Jefferson Territory. A delegate is someone who represents an area in Congress. Even though he lost the election, he still went to Washington D.C.. There, he worked to help the people and interests of the Pikes Peak area. This is called "lobbying."

The Name "Idaho"

While in Washington, D.C., Willing claimed he came up with the name "Idaho". He said he was inspired by a girl named Ida. There is no clear proof to say if this is true or not. However, the name "Idaho" was first used in a Congress committee in 1860.

Willing's friend, William O. Stoddard, wrote about Willing's claim in a newspaper article in 1875. Even though the Pikes Peak area was named "Colorado," the name "Idaho" became very popular. It was used for a steamboat, a town in Colorado called Idaho Springs, and a county in Washington Territory. Later, it became the name for Idaho Territory.

The Peralta Land Grant

Willing returned to Denver in August 1860. He was later seen in Prescott, Arizona Territory in 1867. Willing claimed he bought the rights to a large Spanish land grant from a man named Miguel Peralta. This supposedly happened on October 26, 1864. The deal was said to have taken place at a simple campsite. There were no official papers. Instead, the agreement was written on a piece of greasy camp paper. It had signatures from several witnesses.

Willing went to Prescott to register this document. He didn't have much money. He offered to sell half of the land grant to James D. Monihon, who owned a stable. In return, Willing wanted US$250 and to pay off his debt. Willing hoped they could sell parts of this Spanish land claim to settlers already living there.

Monihon refused the offer. He warned Willing that local people might be very angry if they found out about his plans. Willing quickly left town the next morning with a government survey team heading to Santa Fe.

Later Life and Death

In 1871, Willing asked James Reavis for help with his land grant. Reavis was a real estate agent from St. Louis who was skilled at making fake documents. Willing and Reavis met regularly with William W. Gitt. Gitt was known as the "Old Spanish Land Title Lawyer" because of his past dealings with land titles. They studied Willing's papers together.

Willing and Reavis decided to work together. Willing went back to Arizona Territory in January 1874. He filed his land document at the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott. The next morning, he was found dead. No official investigation was done to find out why he died. Some people thought he might have been poisoned. Others suggested it was due to "exposure and hardship," or simply "strange and unwitnessed circumstances."

See also

In Spanish: George M. Willing para niños